CPU performance tests

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
PaulGreblick
Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 115
  • Joined: 2005/02/15 15:06:12
  • Status: offline
2005/12/11 08:01:03 (permalink)

CPU performance tests

Hey, all,

Just thought I'd poot a comparison of some tests of a couple of way different PC's that would be interesting to those looking to upgrade, build, or buy new.

I'm a PC Tech "by day" (don't ask what "by night", I could tell you, but...you know the rest) and sometimes there are certain tools and utilities that help get a clearer picture of things. One of these tools is here -

http://www.passmark.com/products/pt.htm

And showed me excatly why (in comparison to others) that my Dell P4 2.66G/2G RAM wasn't doing as well as I wanted it to.

This test rates each PC's "function" from memory, hard dive speed, etc, in a certain numeric scale, and an overall rating, also, which can then be checked in an online database) through the GUI with the registered versions.

I had a total of 388.3 for the Dell.

I went to Best But and took home a Gateway Intel Dual Core 820 D and got a 460.5. ($1300 - took it back after the test)

Then I ran it on the PC that I just received from PC Audio Labs (.com if anyone is interested) and with an AMD X2 4400+ and got a 519.0..

All tests were done with SATA hard drives and 2G Ram.

This may not make "real world" sense due to the the numbers have no intrinsic value other than a comparison, but at least it will tell you how your machine might rate against others
#1

8 Replies Related Threads
    fac
    Max Output Level: -51 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2427
    • Joined: 2004/06/15 10:08:48
    • Location: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 09:43:35 (permalink)
    Does this test use multithreaded benchmarks to test dual core setups? Otherwise, your results may be meaningless for Sonar users.

    I any case, the benchmarking tests will only give you an idea of the level of performance. The real test is using the system with software you use everyday.

    Here is a test I did under three different systems:

    1) My old DAW: Pentium 4 1.4 Ghz, 640 Mb Rambus
    2) My laptop: AMD Athlon XP-M 2400+ (1.8 Ghz), 1 Gb PC2100
    3) My new DAW: AMD Athlon64 3200+ (2.0 Ghz), 1 Gb PC3200
    4) My new DAW overclocked to 2.4 Ghz (which is the current setup)

    The test consist of five Sonar and Kinetic projects using mostly softsynths and fx. I wrote down the min and max CPU usage during playback and the CPU usage while the project was stopped (idle), and then just took the relative percentages between CPU usage numbers.



    Numbers in red mean the CPU wasn't able to keep up with the project without continuous glitches in the audio output. This means that the project actually needs more than 100% CPU. Because of this, all comparisions against the old P4 system are biased a little low. If these rows are not taken into account, then my current setup (overclocked A64) is 400% as fast as the old Pentium 4 system.

    I don't have a dual core CPU yet but I plan to buy one maybe next year, and then I will update my tests.
    post edited by fac - 2005/12/11 10:20:59

    http://facproductions.net

    Lots of gear. Not enough time.
    #2
    CassidyGT
    Max Output Level: -84 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 338
    • Joined: 2005/09/14 09:37:53
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 10:09:31 (permalink)
    My score was 418.5
    AMD 3800+ x2 CPU with 2 GB RAM and two internal ATA HDDs.

    I think that is a low score for my system. I am also having trouble with SONAR in that my CPU usage is very very high considering what I am running. Still can't figure out what the problem might be - been working on it from the beginning. Was hoping the test would be extremely low so it would validate my feelings of DAW anxiety.
    #3
    wogg
    Max Output Level: -57 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1819
    • Joined: 2003/11/14 16:07:44
    • Location: Columbus, OH
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 11:15:18 (permalink)
    I'm with Mr.FAC there... synthetic benchmark rarely have any indication of performance in audio applications. Audio Apps are such a niche market that benchmarks are not developed to reflect that kind of usage. The best test is application specific in that case.

    However, I am a hardware junky and love comparing systems so I downloaded it anyway... thanks!

    Homepage:
    The World of Wogg
    #4
    fac
    Max Output Level: -51 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2427
    • Joined: 2004/06/15 10:08:48
    • Location: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 11:20:41 (permalink)
    Well, I just ran this benchmark and I got 496.2 with an overclocked Athlon64 running at 2.4 Ghz (equivalent to a 3800+), which is way beyond CassidyGT's 418.5 with an X2 3800+ (2.0 Ghz). This leads me to think that this benchmark may only be meaningful for single core CPU's since Paul's result with an X2 4400+ weren't significantly higher than mine (519.0).

    Cassidy, have you optimized your system according to www.musicxp.net ? Maybe you have some background apps going on? Or maybe you have CoolAndQuiet active and it's slowing down your CPU. Go to www.cpuid.com and download CPU-Z to check what your actual CPU settings are.
    post edited by fac - 2005/12/11 11:38:59

    http://facproductions.net

    Lots of gear. Not enough time.
    #5
    djoni
    Max Output Level: -55.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1974
    • Joined: 2003/12/17 11:10:44
    • Location: Mozambique
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 11:44:28 (permalink)
    can I overclock my athlon64 4000+?

    how?


    Ekaya Productions

    Sonar Platinum, Intel - 6 Core i7 overclocked 4.5GHz with HT 12meg cache w/ 32GB RAM, UAD-2 QUAD & OCTO, Tascam DM-4800, 1xMackie CU & 2xExtenders...
    #6
    Johnny
    Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 100
    • Joined: 2003/12/21 12:43:16
    • Location: Marin Ca.
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 12:51:33 (permalink)
    P3 1.4= 305
    #7
    fac
    Max Output Level: -51 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2427
    • Joined: 2004/06/15 10:08:48
    • Location: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 13:06:25 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: djoni

    can I overclock my athlon64 4000+?

    how?


    You probably can, but maybe not as much as a slower CPU. The 4000+ is the fastest single core Athlon64 CPU in the market right now, running at 2.4 Ghz. You might be able to make it run at 2.6 or 2.7 but maybe not more without some serious tweakings.

    In any case, before you attempt anything, you should get very informed about how to proceed and preferably get some guidance from people who are really into overclocking. Keep in mind you may permanently damage your CPU and/or motherboard by doing this.

    The best advice I can give you is go to www.overclock.net and subscribe to the forums. Then go to the AMD CPU's forum and ask for help - there's a good overclocking tutorial there and lots of helpful folk.
    post edited by fac - 2005/12/11 13:49:31

    http://facproductions.net

    Lots of gear. Not enough time.
    #8
    CassidyGT
    Max Output Level: -84 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 338
    • Joined: 2005/09/14 09:37:53
    • Status: offline
    RE: CPU performance tests 2005/12/11 21:44:09 (permalink)
    fac - thanks for the site that outlines all the performance optimizations. I had most of them done already. Did all the tweaks and my score went up to 436.9 Hopefully this will translate into better DAW performance.
    #9
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1